Electronic reader device and graphical user interface control method thereof

Abstract

An electronic reader device with a physical control disposed on a surface of the device housing. The physical control is operable to initiate a first function. A display disposed on the surface of the housing is operable to show a virtual control that initiates a second function. A sensor detects a drag operation moving the virtual control to a position on a border of the display adjacent to the physical control. A processor associates the second function with the physical control in response to the drag operation and performs the second function upon activation of the physical control.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims all benefits accruing under 35 U.S.C from Chinese Patent Application No. 201010300624.7, filed on Jan. 23, 2010 in the People's Republic of China. The disclosure of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The disclosure relates to computer technologies, and more particularly to an electronic reader device and flexible control interface thereof.

2. Description of Related Art

Digitally formatted books are widely known as e-books. Current e-book reader devices often feature a reflective display, and offer free wireless access to Internet bookstores. One appealing factor of the e-book reader device is the capability of carrying numerous digitally formatted books in a small unit. Being designed for reading, a major surface area of an e-book reader is reserved for a display while physical controls, such as keys or a keyboard, surround the display. Among the physical controls, a functional key activates a specific function, such as returning to a main menu, launching an e-mail application, connecting to a bookstore and others. Although functional keys are designed for convenience of executing certain common tasks, the most frequently executed key can vary by users. An icon or symbol may be printed on a functional key to denote the function corresponding thereto. Since such prints are fixed to the surface of an e-book reader, changing functionality of the key can lead to confusion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of an electronic reader device;

FIG. 2 is a top view of an exemplary embodiment of the electronic reader device;

FIG. 3A is a cross-section of an exemplary embodiment of a physical control module;

FIGS. 3B-3F are schematic diagrams of respective layers of the exemplary embodiment of the physical control module;

FIG. 3G is an alternative embodiment of the second layer of the physical control module;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing exemplary drag operations of icons;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of a graphical user interface (GUI) control method;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of operating point activation of the physical control module;

FIGS. 7-9 are schematic diagrams of exemplary embodiments of the electronic reader device with different icons shown on the physical control module;

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of an alternative embodiment of the electronic reader device with light-based touch sensors;

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of an alternative embodiment of the electronic reader device with physical controls structured as keys; and

FIG. 12 is a cross-section of a key in one alternative embodiment of the physical control.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Description of exemplary embodiments of the electronic reader device and electronic reader device is given in the following paragraphs which are organized as:

1. System Overview

1.1 Exemplary Reader Device

1.2 Structure of a physical control

2. GUI Control Method

2.1 Icon ehaviors

2.2 Exemplary operation

3. Alternative Embodiments

3.1 Alternative configuration of touch sensors

3.2 Additional contact operations

4. Conclusion

1. SYSTEM OVERVIEW

The disclosed electronic reader device can be implemented as a standalone device or integrated in various electronic devices, such as a cell phone, a tablet personal computer (PC), a laptop computer, a monitor, a multimedia player, a digital camera, a set top box, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a navigation device or a mobile internet device (MID).

1.1 Exemplary Reader Device

With reference to FIG. 1, a processor 151 comprises a central processing unit of the electronic reader device 100. The processor 151 may comprise various integrated circuits (ICs) for processing data and machine-readable instructions. A communication unit 156 establishes wireless communication channels through which the electronic reader device 100 may connect to and download e-books from a virtual bookstore. The communication unit 156 may comprise antennas, base band and radio frequency (RF) chipsets for wireless local area network communication and/or cellular communication such as wideband code division multiple access (W-CDMA) and high speed downlink packet access (HSDPA). The processor 151 may be packaged as a chip or comprise a plurality of chips interconnected through buses. For example, the processor 10 may only comprise a central processing unit (CPU) or a combination of a CPU, a digital signal processor (DSP), and a chip of a communication controller, such as a chip of the communication unit 156. The communication controller may comprise a controller of a cellular communication, infrared, BLUETOOTH, or wireless local area network (LAN) communication devices. The communication controller coordinates communication among components of the electronic device 100 or communication between the electronic device 100 and external devices.

A power supply 158 provides electrical power to components of the electronic reader device 100. A crystal oscillator 159 provides clock signals to the processor 151 and other components of the electronic reader device 100. Connection of the components in the electronic reader device 100 is shown in FIG. 1 and may comprise serial or parallel transmission buses. Input and output (I/O) units 160 may comprise control buttons, an alphanumeric keypad, a touch panel, a touch screen, and a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs). A controller 165 detects operations on the I/O units 160 and transmits signals indicative of the detected operation to the processor 151. The controller 165 also controls operations of the I/O units 160. The processor 151 may control the I/O units 160 through the controller 165. Ports 164 may be used to connect to various computerized interfaces, such as an external computer, or a peripheral device. The ports 164 may comprise physical ports complying with universal serial bus (USB) and IEEE 1394 standards.

Nonvolatile memory 153 stores an operating system and applications executable by the processor 151. The processor 151 may load runtime processes and data from the nonvolatile memory 153 to the main memory 152 and store digital content in a mass storage device 154. The electronic reader device 100 may obtain digital content such as e-books from the communication unit 156. The main memory 152 may comprise a random access memory (RAM), such as static RAM (SRAM) or dynamic RAM (DRAM). The nonvolatile memory 153 may comprise an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) or a flash memory, such as a NOR flash or a NAND flash.

An audio output unit comprises a digital to analog converter converting audio signals output by the processor 151 from digital format to analog format.

A display 155 is operable to display text and images, and may comprise a reflective display, such as an electrophoretic display, an electrofluitic display, or a display using interferometric modulation. Alternatively, the display 155 may comprise e-paper, a display made up of organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), a field emission display (FED), or a liquid crystal display (LCD). The display 155 may display various graphical user interfaces (GUIs) as virtual controls including but not limited to windows, scroll bars, icons, and clipboards. The display 155 may comprise a single display or a plurality of displays in different sizes. The processor 151 may present various GUIs on the display 155 as detailed in the following paragraphs.

The electronic reader device 100 comprises a housing structured to include the components of the electronic reader device 100.

The I/O units 160 comprise a touch sensor 167 operable to detect contact operations on the display 155. The touch sensor 167 may comprise a transparent touch pad overlaid on the display 155 or arrays of optical touch transmitters and receivers located on the border of the display 155, such as those disclosed in US patent publication No. 20090189878.

With reference to FIG. 2, the electronic reader device 100 comprises a shell 166 providing the housing in which the components of the electronic reader device 100 are integrated. Physical controls of the I/O units 160 comprise a control module 60, a touch pad 61, and a key 62, forming a portion of the frame of the display 155. The touch pad 61 is operable to turn pages of an e-book. The key 62 is operable to show a menu on the display 155. The control module 60 comprises activation points, each of which is operable to trigger an operation associated with the activation point upon receiving depression thereon. Each of the activation points may initially associate with a default operation. The display 155, control module 60, a touch pad 61, and a key 62 are disposed on a first surface and form a portion of the shell 166 of the electronic reader device 100.

1.2 Structure of a Physical Control

FIG. 3A is a cross-section of the physical control module 60 along a line 70 in FIG. 2. The control module 60 comprises layers L1˜L5. With reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the layer L1 forms top cover of the control module 60 with an array of transparent windows, among which windows 1˜9 are shown in FIG. 3A. Windows in addition to 1˜9 are shown as similar squares in FIGS. 3B-3D without labels. Windows on the layer L2 are aligned with windows on the layer L1, windows on the layer L3 are aligned with windows on the layer L2, and are aligned with the lamps on the layer L4. FIG. 3F shows lamps in the layer L4 as similar circles, among which lamps 11-19 are shown in FIG. 3A. The windows on layers L1-L3 may be filled with transparent dielectric materials, such that lamps in the layer L4 may provide light beams through the windows.

FIG. 3C shows the upper surface of the layer L2. The layer L2 comprises a printed circuit board (PCB) on which three printed metallic areas 81-83 (in FIG. 3C) are formed, each of which acts as a detection pad. Each of the detection pads 81-83 comprises an array of openings to form a plurality of windows thereon. Vias 91, 92, and 93 in the layer L2 represented by round points in FIG. 3C are respectively formed by centers of the detection pads 81-83 and are filled with conductive material such as tin. Buses 811, 821, and 831 connected to the detection pads 81-83 are formed on the lower surface of the layer L2, and thus represented by dotted lines in FIG. 3C.

With reference to FIG. 3D, the buses 811, 821, and 831 of the detection pads 81-83 are formed on the lower surface of the layer L2 and connected to the detection pads 81-83 respectively through the vias 91, 92, and 93. Each of the buses 811, 821, and 831 has one end connected to one of the detection pads 81-83 and the other end connected to the controller 165. The controller 165 detects contact operations in proximity to an operating point of the control 60 by determining capacitance changes of at least one of the detection pads 81-83. Alternatively, the controller 165 may detect contact operations in proximity to an operating point of the control 60 by determining changes in thermal or biological parameters through at least one of the detection pads 81-83.

With reference to FIG. 3E, the layer L3 comprises a dielectric layer, such as another layer of printed circuit board, on which an array of windows are formed and aligned with the windows on the layer L2. In FIG. 3F, lamps in the layer L4 is formed as lamp arrays on the upper surface of the layer L5 and aligned with the windows on the layer L3. The lamps on the layer L5 may comprise LEDs or OLEDs. Buses connecting the lamps are also formed on the layer L5. Distance between any two of the detection pads exceeds the thickness of the layer L1. The layers L2 and L5 may comprise printed circuit boards.

Note that more detection pads may be formed on the layer L2. An operating point of the control 60 may associate with a group of detection pads. For example, FIG. 3G shows another embodiment of the layer L2 wherein components such as vias and traces are represented analogously with respect to FIG. 3C. An operating point of the control 60 is associated with three detection pads, in which a central detection pad (such as 81) and a left detection pad (such as 81a) and a right detection pad (such as 81b) thereof are connected to the controller 165 through corresponding vias and traces. As more than one detection pad are grouped up to correspond to a single operating point on the control 60, the controller 165 may detect moving direction of a contact operation on an operating point by determining the order of detection pad activation in a detection pad group.

2. GUI CONTROL METHOD

The electronic reader device 100 may provide a plurality of functions and display icons respectively corresponding to the plurality of functions.

2.1 Icon Behavior

Status of an icon may notify events received or generated by the program associated with the icon. The processor 151 may update icon status shown by the lamps of the control 60 to synchronize with program events or status associated with the icon when the display 155 shows another foreground program or is turned off.

Status of an icon may comprise at least three states, such as on, off, and animation states. The on state of an icon may comprise a plurality of sub-states respectively representing statuses of the program functions associated with the icon. For example, the sub-states may represent function execution/suspension, service signing in/off, communication channel connection/disconnection, and others. The off icon state indicates that the device 100 is in suspension mode. The animation state of an icon indicates message delivery from a function or program associated with the icon.

With reference to FIG. 2, icons 41-45 respectively correspond to functions of returning to a main page, showing a favorite collection folder (typically referred to as “My Favorite”), launching a music player program, a really simple syndication (RSS) reader, and an Internet messaging application. Icons 431-435 respectively correspond to optional functions of the music player program associated with the icon 43. The icon 431 corresponds to resumption or suspension of music playback. The icons 432 and 433 respectively correspond to backward and forward playback switching. The icon 434 corresponds to showing a GUI of information query. The icon 435 corresponds to showing a GUI of music player configurations. When detecting a touch condition to activate an icon shown in FIG. 2, the processor 155 performs a function corresponding to the activated icon.

With reference to FIG. 4, areas 51-53 on the control 60 are respectively in proximity to the detection pads 81-83. Each of the areas 51-53 serves as an operating point of the control 60 which when activated triggers the electronic reader device 100 to perform one or more functions associated with the operating point. Upon detecting contact, the controller 165 may interpret the contact operation on one operating point as activation operation of the operating point. As each of the areas 51-53 may initially be associated with no function, lamps in the areas 51-53 may correspondingly be initially off and showing any iconic image.

2.2 Exemplary Operation

With reference to FIG. 5, the processor 151 detects two events comprising a drag operation that moves an icon to a position on a border of the display 155 close to an operating point of the physical control 60 (step S2) and an activation of the operating point of the physical control 60 immediately following the drag operation (step S4). The drag operation may begin from an original position of the icon to a point in a proximity range to one of the operating points, such as one of the areas 51-53, thus to generate the detected events in steps S2 and S4. The processor 151 adds the icon to a reserved area in the main memory 152 (step S6), associates the icon and one or more functions corresponding to the icon with the operating point (step S8) and switches on a portion of lamps in the area of the operating point to show an iconic image representing the icon on the operating point in response to steps S2 and S4 (step S10). If the operating point has an original association with a default function of a default icon before step S2, the processor 151 replaces the original association of the operating point and the default function by the association generated in step S8. The processor 151 may represent the association by data stored in the main memory 152 or the nonvolatile memory 153. The processor 151 may determine that the activation of the operating point immediately follows the drag operation if occurrence of the operating point activation in step S4 is no later than a predetermined period D from the time when an end point of the drag operation on the display 155 is detected in step S2. The processor 151 presents the iconic image as a copy of the icon, and may not remove the icon from the display 155 after the drag operation. With reference to FIG. 6, when receiving activation of the operating point (step S12), the processor 151 interprets the activation of the operating point as an activation to an icon associated with the operating point (step S14) and performs the one or more functions currently associated with the icon and the operating point (step S16). Note that in step S12, the activation of the operating point does not immediately follow any special drag operation. The processor 151 updates the iconic image on the activated operating point to synchronize the appearance of the image with the icon associated with the operating point.

The processor 151 may determine the drag operation of the icon as a special drag operation if the end point of the drag operation on the display border is in a proximity range to or close to an operating point. The processor 151 may execute steps S6, S8, and S10 in response to the special drag operation.

With reference to FIG. 4, for example, when detecting a first drag operation 201 that moves the icon 431 to a position P1 on a border of the display 155 close to the operating point of the area 51 (step S2) and an activation of the operating point of the area 51 following the first drag operation (step S4), the processor 151 adds the icon 431 to a reserved area in the main memory 152 (step S6), associates music playback resumption and suspension functions of the icon 431 with the operating point of the area 51 to establish a first association thereof (step S8) and switches on a portion of lamps in the area 51 to show an iconic image 301 representing the icon 431 in response to the detection (step S10), as shown in FIG. 7. When receiving activation of the operating point of the area 51 (step S12), the processor 151 according to the first association interprets the activation of the operating point as an activation to the icon 431 associated with the operating point (step S14) and performs the music playback resumption function associated with the operating point (step S16). The icon 431 may change appearance according to the performed one or more functions. The processor 151 may control the lamps in the area 51 to synchronize appearance of the iconic image 301 with the icon 431. As shown in FIG. 8, for example, after step S14, appearances of the icon 431 and the image in the area 51 synchronously change to represent the suspension function.

Data representing association of an operating point, an icon, and one or more functions thereof, such as the operating point of the area 51, the icon 431, and music playback resumption and suspension functions of the icon 431, may comprise identification information of each of the associated operating point, icon, and one or more functions in the association.

Additionally, the processor 151 may smoothly display movement of the icon 431 along a track of the drag operation 201 in step S2, and when the drag operation reaches the position P1, keeps on movement of the icon 431 according to the moving speed and direction of the icon 431 on the position P1 for the predetermined period D.

Further, when detecting a second drag operation 202 that moves the icon 432 to a position P2 on a border of the display 155 adjacent to the operating point of the area 51 (step S2) and an activation of the operating point of the area 51 following the second drag operation (step S4), the processor 151 adds the icon 432 to a reserved area in the main memory 152 (step S6), associates backward music playback switch function of the icon 432 with the operating point of the area 51 to establish a second association of thereof (step S8) and switches on a portion of lamps in the area 51 to show an iconic image 302 (shown in FIG. 9) representing the icon 432 rather than performing the music playback suspension function (step S10). The processor 151 replaces the first association between the operating point 51 and the icon 431 by the second association between the operating point 51 and the icon 432. When receiving activation of the operating point of the area 51 (step S12), the processor 151 interprets the activation of the operating point as an activation to the icon 432 associated with the operating point of the area 51 (step S14) and performs the backward music playback switch function associated with the operating point according to the second association (step S16).

3. ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS

3.1 Alternative Configuration of Touch Sensors

Light guide components, such as optical fibers, may be respectively utilized to connect each lamp to a corresponding window on a detection pad, thus to eliminate interference between the lamps and the detection pads. The dimension of each window on the control 60 may as small as a cross-section area of an optical fiber. Alternatively, as one end of an optical fiber is connected to a window on the control 60, the other end of an optical fiber may be connected to one or more pixel of the display 155. Thus, an area of the display 155 comprising the fiber-connected pixels is reserved for the functions of the physical control 60.

With reference to FIG. 10, infra-red LEDs and photodiode (PD) receivers disclosed in US patent publication No. 20090189878 may be utilized by the device 100. Infra-red LEDs are represented by similar circles with stripes, and PD receivers are represented by similar circles without stripes. Infra-red LEDs 600 are arranged as a vertical array adjacent to left edge of the display 155, and PD receivers 500 operable to receive light beams transmitted by the LEDs 600 are arranged as a vertical array adjacent to right edge of the control 60. Infra-red LEDs 610 are arranged as a horizontal array adjacent to lower edge of the display 155 and the control 160, and PD receivers 510 operable to receive light beams transmitted by the LEDs 610 are arranged as a horizontal array adjacent to upper edge of the display 155 and the control 160. The processor 151 may utilize the LEDs 600, 610 and PD receivers 500, and 510 to detect contact operations in an area enclosed by these LEDs and PD receivers. The infra-red LEDs and PD receivers may be fixed to an inner surface of the shell 166.

With reference to FIG. 11, the operating points of the control 60 may be structured as keys in areas 51-54. Each of the operating points is activated by contact. FIG. 12 shows a cross-section of a key in the area 53 along a line 71. Similar or identical components between FIGS. 12 and 3A are labeled with the same numbers. A top cover L1 of the key comprises a plurality of transparent windows including 1-9 through which lamps including 11-19 may provide illumination. The lamps including 11-19 of the key are formed on PCB L5 and connected to the controller 165 through a flexible bus 705. The bus 705 may comprise a flexible printed circuit board. A cushion 700 of the key is made up of elastic material, on which a pad 701 is made up of electrically conductive material. Labels 702 and 703 denote two terminals of wires printed on PCB 704. The pad 701 may connect the terminals 702 and 703 when the key is depressed. The processor 151 may detect if the key is depressed by determining if the terminals 702 and 703 are connected.

3.2 Additional Contact Operations

The iconic images shown on the control 60 may also be referred to as icons. The processor 151 may respond to various contact operations on an operating point based on a status of an icon associated with the operating point.

In response to a drag operation applied to an icon in “on” state from an operating point of the control 60 to the functional display 155, the processor 151 removes the association between the operating point and a program of the icon and further disables presentation of the icon on the control 60. Removal of the association between the operating point and the program also cancels association of the operating point, the icon, and operations of the program. In response to a contact operation applied to an icon in “on” state, the processor 151 executes a function represented by the icon. In response to a depress and hold operation applied to the icon in “on” status, the processor 151 brings the program associated with the icon to the foreground of the display 155. The depress and hold operation comprises contact with the operating point associated with the icon for a predetermined period of time.

In a suspension mode of the device 100, the processor 151 may enter a power saving state while the control 60 and at least a related IC thereof (such as the controller 165) still works in a normal operation mode. In response to a contact operation on any icon in off state, the IC related to the control 60 interrupts the processor 151, and the processor 151 changes operation mode of the device 100 and restores all icons on the control 60 to “on” or “animation” state.

In response to event or message notification from a program, the processor 151 changes status of an icon displayed on an operating point of the control 60 associated with the program from an original state to an animation state. In response to a contact operation applied to an icon in “animation” state on the control 60, the processor 151 prompts a GUI element showing a message of a program associated with the icon.

In response to a drag operation applied to an icon in “animation” state from the control 60 to the display 155, the processor 151 brings the program associated with the icon to the foreground of the display 155 for further operations.

In response to a drag operation applied to an icon in “animation” status from the control 60 to the border thereof, the processor 151 cancels message notification from the program associated with the icon and restores status of the icon to an original status thereof.

4. CONCLUSION

As previously described, the electronic reader device 100 allows transition of icons between display 155 and a physical control forming a portion of the frame of the display 155. Each operating point of the physical control may serve as a functional key and is configurable to trigger various functions. The physical control has no printed icon, thus providing more user-definable features.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the disclosure have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the present disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims

1. An electronic reader device, comprising:

a housing;

a physical control disposed on a surface of the housing and operable to initiate a first function in response to activation of the physical control according to association of the first function and the physical control;

a display enclosed by the housing, physically in contact with the surface of the housing and separated from the physical control, and operable to show a virtual control operable to initiate a second function in response to activation of the virtual control;

a gesture sensor of the display operable to detect a drag operation of moving the virtual control from an original position to an end position where the drag operation terminated, wherein the end position comprises a position on a border of the display, close to the physical control and in a proximity range of the physical control, the drag operation is separated from the physical control, and the physical control is beyond a touch display area of the gesture sensor; and

a processor operable to associate the second function with the physical control to replace the association of the first function and the physical control in response to the drag operation upon a condition that at least a portion of the drag operation is in the proximity range of the physical control, and perform the second function in response to activation of the physical control according to the association of the second function and the physical control.

2. The electronic reader device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a pixel array located on the physical control, wherein the physical control comprises a push key assembled with a group of pixels in the pixel array on the key, and the virtual control is represented as an icon on the display.

3. The electronic reader device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the processor controls the group of pixels on the key to show a first icon corresponding to the first function on the key before detection of the drag operation and a second icon corresponding to the second function on the key to replace the first icon after detection of the drag operation.

4. The electronic reader device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the gesture sensor detects the drag operation by a first gesture detection scheme, and the electronic reader device further comprises a second sensor operable to detect an end point of the drag operation by a second gesture detection scheme, wherein the processor associates the second function with the physical control if the end point of the drag operation is in proximity to the physical control.

5. The electronic reader device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the processor cancels the association between the second function and the physical control in response to a fourth operation of dragging the second icon from the physical control to the display.

6. The electronic reader device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the processor changes status of the second icon from an original state to an animation state in response to event or message notification from a program associated with the second icon, and provides animation of the second icon on the physical control in the animation state.

7. The electronic reader device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the processor issues a message of the program associated with the second icon in response to a contact operation on the second icon.

8. The electronic reader device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the processor brings the program associated with the second icon to the foreground of the display in response to a fourth operation of dragging the second icon from the physical control to the display.

9. The electronic reader device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the processor cancels message notification from the program associated with the second icon and restores status of the second icon to an original status of the second icon in response to a drag operation on the second icon in the animation status from the physical control to a border thereof.

10. The electronic reader device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the second sensor comprises a second sensor which comprises a plurality of detection pads and detects a touch movement base on an order in which at least two of the plurality of detection pads are orderly activated.

11. The electronic reader device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the physical control forms a portion of a frame enclosing the display.

12. The electronic reader device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display comprises a reflective display.

13. The electronic reader device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processor moves the virtual control for a predetermined period of time upon the end position according to a moving speed and a direction of the virtual control moved by the drag operation.

14. A graphical user interface control method, executed by an electronic reader device comprising a display and a physical control disposed on a surface of the electronic reader device, wherein the physical control is operable to initiate a first function in response to activation of the physical control according to association of the first function and the physical control, and a virtual control shown on the display is operable to initiate a second function in response to activation of the virtual control, comprising:

utilizing a first gesture detection function to detect a drag operation of the virtual control on the display from an original position to an end position where the drag operation terminated, wherein the end position comprises a position on the display close to the physical control and in a proximity range of the physical control, the drag operation is separated from the physical control, and the physical control utilizes a second gesture detection function to detect the end position of the drag operation according to the proximity range;

associating the second function with the physical control to replace the association of the first function and the physical control in response to the drag operation if the end point of the drag operation is in the proximity range of the physical control; and

performing the second function in response to activation of the physical control according to the association of the second function and the physical control.

15. The graphical user interface control method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising controlling the physical control to show a first icon corresponding to the first function on the physical control utilizing a display function of the physical control before detection of the drag operation and a second icon corresponding to the second function on the physical control to replace the first icon utilizing the display function of the physical control after detection of the drag operation.

16. The graphical user interface control method as claimed in claim 15, further comprising detecting the end point of the drag operation via a proximity detection function, wherein the second function is associated with the physical control if the end point of the drag operation is in proximity to the physical control.

17. The graphical user interface control method as claimed in claim 16, further comprising cancelling the association between the second function and the physical control in response to a fourth operation of dragging the second icon from the physical control to the display.

18. The graphical user interface control method as claimed in claim 16, further comprising:

changing status of the second icon from an original state to an animation state in response to event or message notification from a program associated with the second function; and

providing animation of the second icon on the physical control in the animation state.

19. The graphical user interface control method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising prompting a message of the program associated with the second icon in response to a contact operation on the second icon.

20. The graphical user interface control method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising bringing the program associated with the second icon to the foreground of the display in response to a fourth operation of dragging the second icon from the physical control to the display.

21. The graphical user interface control method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising cancelling message notification from the program associated with the second icon and restoring status of the second icon to an original status of the second icon in response to a drag operation on the second icon in the animation status from the physical control to a border thereof.

22. The graphical user interface control method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising:

moving the virtual control for a predetermined period of time upon the end position according to a moving speed and a direction of the virtual control moved by the drag operation.

23. An electronic reader device, comprising:

a housing;

a physical control positioned on a surface of the housing, wherein the physical control comprises a supplemental display area on a surface of the physical control operable to show a first icon, and the physical control is operable to initiate a first function in response to activation of the physical control according to association of the first function and the first icon;

a main display enclosed by the housing such that a surface of the main display is physically in contact with the surface of the housing and separated from the physical control, wherein the main display is operable to show a virtual control operable to initiate a second function in response to activation of the virtual control;

a gesture sensor operable to detect a first segment of a drag operation in which the first segment moves the virtual control from an original position to an end position on the main display;

a second sensor operable to provide a proximity detection range as a tolerance range for detecting touch operations based on the physical control, and detect an initiating point or an end point of a second segment of the drag operation via the tolerance range, wherein the drag operation consist of the first segment and the second segment and is terminated at an terminating point selected from the end position of the first segment and the end point of the second segment, the tolerance range covering greater than the supplemental display area on the physical control operable to show the first icon, and the drag operation is separated from the first icon; and

a processor operable to detect an instance of the drag operation through the gesture sensor and the second sensor, and perform an additional function associated with the physical control in response to the instance of the drag operation, wherein the additional function comprises:

associating the second function with the physical control to replace the association of the first function and the first icon in response to the instance of the drag operation; and

performing the second function in response to activation of the physical control according to the association of the second function and the physical control.

24. The electronic reader device as claimed in claim 23, wherein the virtual control comprises an icon as a graphical user interface element of the electronic reader device.

25. The electronic reader device as claimed in claim 23, wherein the physical control comprises a push button assembled with a group of pixels in a pixel array on the push button.

26. The electronic reader device as claimed in claim 23, wherein the additional function comprises at least one of cancelling of the association of the first function and the physical control, showing a message associated with the first icon, and bringing a program associated with the first icon to the foreground of the main display.

27. The electronic reader device as claimed in claim 23, wherein the second sensor comprises a plurality of detection pads and detects a touch movement base on an order in which at least two of the plurality of detection pads are orderly activated.

28. The electronic reader device as claimed in claim 23, wherein the processor moves the virtual control for a predetermined period of time upon the end position according to a moving speed and a direction of the virtual control moved by the drag operation.